Method of controlling the operation of a rear wiper system of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A method and system for detecting the presence of a carrier mounted on the rear of a motor vehicle or of an object carried by the carrier that may cause damage or a malfunction of a rear wiper system of the motor vehicle. If a potentially obstructing situation is determined to be present, the rear wiper system is deactivated to prevent it malfunctioning or being damaged by the obstruction. A user of the vehicle may be provided with a message that an obstruction has been detected and the user may control whether the wiper system is deactivated. The obstruction may be sensed by monitoring the amount of current drawn by a wiper motor, by an ultrasonic sensor, or by a rear-view camera.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of controlling operation of a wiper system for a rear screen of a motor vehicle, the wiper system comprising a wiper arm and a motor to move the wiper arm, the method comprising:
 operating a rear-view camera to detect an object carrier mounted to the vehicle in a position expected to obstruct motion of the wiper arm; and 
 deactivating the wiper system if the object carrier is mounted to the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein deactivating the wiper system comprises maintaining the wiper arm in a park position. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the detecting step comprises detecting that a portion of the object carrier is resting upon the rear screen in an obstructing position. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 sending a message to a user of the vehicle that the obstruction was detected; and 
 allowing the user to control whether the wiper system is deactivated. 
 
     
     
       5. A motor vehicle adapted to receive a carrier for transporting an object mounted on a rear end thereof adjacent to a rear screen, comprising:
 a wiper system having a wiper arm for clearing the rear screen and a motor moving the wiper arm; and 
 a rear-view camera detecting whether at least one of the carrier and the object is in an obstructing position expected to obstruct movement of the wiper arm and generating a signal indicating that at least one of the carrier and the object is in the obstructing position; and 
 an electronic controller operably connected with the camera to receive the signal and deactivating the wiper system in response to the signal. 
 
     
     
       6. The motor vehicle of  claim 5  wherein the rear-view camera detects that a support member of the carrier is resting upon the rear screen in the obstructing position. 
     
     
       7. The motor vehicle of  claim 5  wherein deactivating the wiper system comprises maintaining the wiper arm in a park position. 
     
     
       8. The motor vehicle of  claim 5  further comprising a human-machine interface sending a message to a user of the motor vehicle that at least one of the carrier and the object was detected in the obstructing position and allowing the user to control whether the wiper system is deactivated. 
     
     
       9. A wiper system for clearing a rear screen of a motor vehicle adapted to receive a carrier for transporting an object mounted on a rear end thereof adjacent to the rear screen, comprising:
 a wiper arm movable to clear the rear screen; 
 a motor moving the wiper arm; 
 a rear-view camera for detecting the carrier and/or the object and generating a signal vindicating that the carrier and/or the object is in a position expected to inhibit motion of the wiper arm; and 
 an electronic controller receiving the signal from the rear-view camera and operative in response thereto to prevent the motor from moving the wiper arm. 
 
     
     
       10. The wiper system of  claim 9  further comprising a human-machine interface operatively associated with the rear-view camera and the electronic controller to provide a message to a user of the motor vehicle that an obstruction was detected and allowing the user to control whether the motor is to be prevented from moving the wiper arm.